Thursday, April 11

 
Supermarket Gripes are the Same the World Over

Here's something to ponder the next time you're standing in the 10-items-or-less aisle behind three people whose carts are overflowing with merchandise but who can intimidate the high-school sophomore into accepting them anyway - things aren't much better in England, the alleged "nation of shopkeepers." Catherine Sleep, editor of the food-news site just-food.com, lists her pet supermarket peeves - make that "whinges," a much more interesting word - including price deception, inadequate product knowledge and lack of convenient alternatives. She pokes as much fun at herself as she does at the "major multiples."
posted by Unknown 9:00 AM

Wednesday, April 10

 
Coke: It's What's for Breakfast (And Not Just Down South)

Having just polished off my daily breakfast Coke - fountain product from McDonald's, over ice, in my plastic reusable Coke cup with lid - I can heartily attest to this essay by Lucian V. Truscott IV (which might or might not be an alias) about the joys of drinking Coke for breakfast. I too was a Coke nonimbiber for many years - I remember watching a fellow journalism-school student start his days that way and thinking how awful it was - I have since changed my mind about both the student (I married him) and the drink (I started the awful habit a few years ago when I just had to accompany it with a sausage muffin, also from McDonald's). Today I have ditched the muffin but retain the Coke - it helps me start my day and goes so well with my oatmeal, yogurt and banana! I disagree with one interview subject's contention that the best Coke is poured from an icecold two-liter bottle over commercial ice: My preference is for fountain Cokes that use the Classic Coke formula (McD's doesn't, sadly but Cousin's Subs, Fazoli's and a sandwich place here in town do).
posted by Unknown 10:20 AM